(WILLIAMSVILLE, NEW YORK) – The success Louis Rivera, a Financial Planner with Buffalo and Rochester’s S.C. Parker & Co. Inc. has had working with and helping grow the investments of Union Members, is rooted in his own life - after having worked as a Teamster-represented Employee during a major Strike with United Parcel Service (UPS) in the late 90s.

A 16-day Strike back in August 1997 that involved more than 185,000 Teamster Members effectively shut down UPS operations and cost the company hundreds of millions of dollars.  In the end, the Teamsters’ Strike served as a hard-fought victory for the Union, resulting in a new contract that increased their wages, secured their existing benefits and gave their Members increased job security (For more on the Teamsters’ UPS Strike in the 90s, Go To: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Parcel_Service_strike_of_1997). 

When that Strike occurred back in 1997, Rivera (Pictured Above/WNYLaborToday.com Photos) tells WNYLaborToday.com he was working as a Loader and Sorter at UPS’s operation at the Norfolk, Virginia’s International Airport.  “That’s when I ‘got a taste of working Union.’  ‘I was part of it’ (the Strike),” he said.

Fast forward to today and you’ll find Rivera using his Union experience to help Union Members across the Western New York Region with their investments and retirement accounts as a Financial Consultant working out of the Williamsville Offices of S.C. Parker & Co. Inc., which has offices in both Suburban Buffalo and in Rochester. 

Three of his Union clients - one from United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 897 who’s employed at the Ford Plant in Hamburg, a Fire Fighter represented by Buffalo Professional Fire Fighters Local 282, and a third, a Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) Bus Driver represented by Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1342 – recently took some time to talk with Your On-Line Labor Newspaper about the work Rivera’s done for them. 

And all three had nothing but good things to tell WNYLaborToday.com regarding the results Rivera has brought about for them over the course of time.

John Evancho, an NFTA Bus Driver who’s a 13-year Member with ATU Local 1342, made it pretty clear to WNYLaborToday.com when asked if he would recommend Rivera to others in the Union Movement: “I ‘have’ recommended him.  ‘Why?’  ‘Because he made me money.’”

The father of three teenagers met Rivera “through a friend at the NFTA.”  “He’s a ‘good’ guy and ‘I’m making money with him,’” said Evancho of Rivera overseeing his retirement fund.  “I’ve been with him for two years and he ‘definitely knows what he’s talking about.’”

Dave Hornberger is employed as a Machine Repairman at the Ford Plant in Hamburg and is a Member of UAW Local 897.  He calls Rivera “a good guy.”  “He’s honest,” says Hornberger of Rivera, who handles his 401(k) Plan and an Individual Retirement Account (IRA).  “He has ‘my best interests in mind’ and I ‘trust’ the man.  I ‘would absolutely recommend’ Lou and S.C. Parker ‘because of their integrity, which is the first thing that comes to my mind.’”

Jim Wilkinson is a Fire Fighter represented by Local 282.  A Firefighter for seven years now, Wilkinson was previously represented by the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) while working for the City of Buffalo in its Parks Department.

Wilkinson said Rivera is helping him and his wife with a New York State Education Account, a college fund for his youngest daughter.  He said he met Rivera through his stepfather, who lives next door to Rivera.

“So far, ‘so good,’” Wilkinson told WNYLaborToday.com.  “He’s ‘very hands-on and he’s no used car salesman.’  He ‘doesn’t tell you what you want to hear.’  ‘Too many others have their own best interests in mind.’  (Rivera) ‘lays things out for you’ (to decide on) ‘and it’s all about what you feel is best’ (in moving forward).  ‘He’s very informative - a stand-up guy.’”

Rivera, who’s from Virginia, originally got into the insurance business as an agent and then as a claims adjuster.  He had an opportunity to come to Buffalo after a divorce in order to be close to his son back in 2007.  After trying his hand in the insurance industry here, Rivera made “a couple of jumps” before landing with S.C. Parker & Co., Inc. in 2015, who he was attracted to because they “care about their clients.”  “That was ‘number one for me,’” he said.

According to its web site, S.C. Parker & Co. Inc. - an independent investment firm, has been assisting their clients in planning, investing and succeeding since 1925.  Looking to build sold and long-term customer relationship with the company’s financial advice and portfolio management services, the firm says it constantly researches the markets, looking for the highest quality investments for each individual client: 

Every person has their own unique circumstances and goals, both financially and in life. Working with them, one on one, we develop a financial plan that will help carry them through to success.  Striving to keep things simple and straightforward, we address financial issues and implement effective practices and systems that will increase the client’s wealth.  The investment world is often quite complex.  It is also a world that constantly changes.  That change creates opportunity and risk at the same time.  Helping you to make sense of it all and understanding your investments is a large part of the job.  Our emphasis is on the diversification of assets, a balanced approach to investing and managing risk to achieve sustainable returns over time.  The research is an everyday activity.  It goes hand in hand with tracking one’s progress and making the needed changes and adjustments over time.

Originally founded in Buffalo, S.C. Parker & Co. Inc. offers an array of services, including: Mutual Funds; Common Stocks; Bonds; Government Securities; Variable Annuities; Fixed Annuities; Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS); ETF (Exchange Traded Funds) Account Types; Brokerage Accounts; Fee-Based Advisory Services; IRAs; Custodial Accounts; Trust Accounts Financial Planning; Retirement Planning - Traditional Roth Simple SEP (Self-Employed Pensions); 401(k) and 403(b) Plans; 457(b) State Deferred Compensation Plans; Profit Sharing; Estate Planning; Tax Planning; College Planning; Notary Services Insurance; Life Insurance; Long-Term Care; and Disability Income.

Rivera praises S.C. Parker & Co. Inc. for its approach to working for its clients.  He tells WNYLaborToday.com that he serves around 100 - clients that combined have investments of $17 million to $20 million.  S.C. Parker & Co., Inc. handles more than $350 million in investments for its more than 1,000 clients, he explained.

“This firm has (150) years of experience ‘to draw from and they have the systems in place to run smoothly.’  They’re ‘established and the oldest’ (investment firm) in Buffalo,” he said.  “Seventy-five-percent of my clients work in manufacturing, are Bus Drivers, Peace Officers, Fire Fighters and State Employees - ‘all’ Middle Class.  They’re Blue Collar and they want a ‘no-nonsense’ approach.  They don’t want ‘fluff.’  They’re ‘real’ and they ‘know what’s real.’”

“They have ‘good B.S. indicators,” joked Rivera, who went on to say: “When I was a kid, I wanted to be a Fire Fighter.  Now, later in life, ‘I’m working with them.’  I’m look at taking a ‘holistic view instead of a financial view - looking at the big picture.’  There ‘are always holes inside, looking to crumble.’  We ‘have the options to fix those holes, but there has to be a dialogue.’  Many are planning their security for retirement, but if a spouse passes, they’re looking to keep their financial position so ‘they don’t run out (of money).’  What I do is ‘extremely beneficial and rewarding.’  ‘It’s a great thing being able to serve others.’  Sometimes ‘it’s just being there (for them) and serving as an unbiased party.’”

Rivera also shared a story with WNYLaborToday.com about a client he encountered early in his career with S.C. Parker & Co. Inc. after coming to Buffalo: “He wanted me to review an ($8,000) life insurance policy.  We had a ‘really good’ conversation and I told him his policy was ‘good for him - at the time.’  I ‘didn’t make a dime off him.’  It was a ‘good connection and we kept in touch.’  Three or four years later, he wanted me to take a look at an investment and I ‘helped him improve it significantly.’  ‘He kept calling after, saying he wanted to give me something.’  I helped him ‘double’ his portfolio.  ‘He came to trust me.’”

Rivera hopes to continue to bring about those kind of results for Working People across the Buffalo area and Western New York Region in the years to come. 

However, he’s “more interested” in building a successful track record within Western New York’s Union Community, assisting “average people” with their investments and goals. 

“But I want to ‘grow it the right way’ and I know that will ‘take time,’” he said.

If Rivera continues down the path he’s chosen in terms of way he treats and works for average Working People here in Western New York, word will quickly spread across the region’s Union Community. 

After all, with clients like NFTA Bus Driver/ATU Local 1342 Member John Evancho, who wouldn’t want someone who makes them money?

WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: For more information, visit S.C. Parker’s web site at: https://scparker.com/, or call the Investment Firm directly at 716-632-6800.  There’s no fee to consult with S.C. Parker’s Advisors.